Archives for January 23, 2012

The New England Patriots are quickly righting every wrong that’s happened since they last hoisted the Lombardi Trophy and the Kill Bill-esque revenge tour now will conclude with a shot at the biggest offender of them all.

The Patriots already saw the Giants once this year, and the New England defense couldn’t stop a game-winning drive from Eli Manning that was eerily similar to Super Bowl 42. The Giants are a potent foe, and one who have had the Pats number since seeing 16-0 happen on their home field.

But my initial feeling is that the Patriots know what it takes to beat the Giants and they’ll look at this game feeling like true underdogs, despite whatever the point spread is.

Some quick hit thoughts as I slowly try to come to terms with the fact that we’re going back to the Super Bowl.

1. With the Super Bowl Patriots it always felt like the bounces just seem to go our way at the right time, and this team has a similar feeling. Obviously the Myra-culous missed field goal was the biggest example.
2. I can’t help but feel a tiny slight bit bad for Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. That is not an appropriate playoff fate for two warriors like them. But thems the breaks.
3. I still don’t know what Brady was doing going deep to Slater on that interception. That play would’ve been the talk of the off-season had they lost. 
4. Thus, I think TFB will come out with something major to prove in the Super Bowl.
5. Feel great for Patrick Chung and Brandon Spikes. Two of the players I saw as most valuable to the defense are back and making plays.
6. I wonder the repercussions of this game in the off-season for both teams. The Ravens might get one more shot with Reed and Lewis, maybe.
7. Woodhead wasn’t as much of a factor as I thought he’d be.
8. Green-Ellis was his usual reliable self. Ridley not dressing sent a message. There was no more screwing around in this one. The experiments were over. Only the most reliable were going to play. That goes for Ocho too.
9. How about Matt Light and Nate Solder’s job on Terrell Suggs?
10. Deaderick and Love were solid, but Wilfork was on another level. I don’t know if anyone knew he would be this capable and this diverse just a few years ago. What a beast, making plays in the biggest moments.
11. I don’t know if Sterling Moore will even be on the Pats next year but he made two season-saving plays that deserve note and appreciation.
12. If the Patriots beat the Giants in the Super Bowl I don’t know who there will be really left to hate. We swept the Jets. Colts are starting over. Dolphins/BIlls still MIA. We righted ‘05 Denver loss, ’09 Ravens loss, and (potentially) ’07 Giants loss. Who’s left? 

What a couple of weeks it will be. Looking forward to going back and taking another look at the game without heart palpitations. Go Pats!